Windows Update to Be Updated

Windows Update, the tool used by Microsoft to distribute patches and updates to Windows PCs, will itself be updated in July 2008. However, Microsoft has learned from its mistakes on the last occasion that Windows Update was changed: this time users have been given advance notice that the software will be available and the Windows Update client will partially obey user update preferences.

Popular Free Service

Many consumers and small businesses rely on the free Microsoft Update and Windows Update online services to update their Microsoft software, including Windows and Office, rather than using the more complex Windows Server Update Services or Configuration Manager products. The free services rely on an update client that scans for Microsoft software on PCs and checks online for available updates. Users may turn on the Automatic Update feature to have the client download and install updates automatically, although many sophisticated users opt out of automatic updating so that they can review updates before installing, to see if there are any reported problems with updates that could affect their specific PC configurations.